Bhubaneswar, July 2 – In a case that has sparked outrage and concern, two men were arrested on Tuesday at AIIMS Bhubaneswar for allegedly duping relatives of patients by charging them for services that are offered free of cost.
The accused – Jiten Sutar from Jajpur and Bidhan Chalak from West Midnapore – were posing as intermediaries, targeting unsuspecting families unfamiliar with hospital procedures.
Their modus operandi included falsely promising quicker consultations, ticket bookings, and even insurance assistance, in exchange for money.
Suspicious activities alerted the AIIMS security team, who kept a close watch and eventually apprehended the two. Khandagiri Police were promptly informed and took them into custody.
During interrogation, both individuals confessed to running the scam for several years.
Cases have been registered under relevant sections for cheating and impersonation. Authorities are now investigating whether others were involved in the racket.
In response, the hospital has tightened security measures, while police have stepped up patrols to prevent similar crimes.
This incident comes close on the heels of AIIMS Bhubaneswar being ranked the second-best emerging medical college in India by India Today–MDRA.
Hospital authorities have assured stricter oversight and public awareness drives to protect vulnerable families from falling prey to such fraudsters.
